Reef Breeders Meridians

[TelegrahamTested LLC]

FTC has a requirement for this very reason. I encourage anyone who hosts a platform or is sponsored by or gets products to test and/or at reduced pricing to read the requirement.

And platform-specific terms of service.

 

[VintageReefer]

As someone who has received gear at a reduced rate, whether that's free for use, free for testing, or sourced from locals, I think it's very important to look at recommendations through the appropriate lens. Without transparency, seemingly harmless recommendations can be more than they seem. Some may be rooted in blurred lines of favor (real or perceived) from manufacturers, while others are open in their approach.

I have not always been good at this, but my current approach to recommending is to start with how I received the gear, then follow up with why I dig it (or why it sucks).

Back in Nov, the following was shared in this thread:

30 Nov - "I did receive my current lights at a reduced rate, but only because I had a photon 48v2 in excellent condition and a lumenbar v2 48" that was new, and I traded them in for credit that I used towards the meridian setup. I spoke with them and expressed interest in the lights, I asked tons of questions because I had a very successful tank under the photons and was nervous going to a brand new light. I liked the info I heard. I asked them if they would accept my current setup as a trade in for credit since they sell recertified lights on their website. They made me an offer. I accepted. I applied the credit towards the meridian setup. That is what I mean by "reduced rate"

In April, after repeated inquiries, and on an alternative platform, I received this answer to the how did you acquire the gear question.

13 Apr - "i paid zero due to gear I shipped back as trade in credit"

Roger. Reduced rate. Those are two answers are very similar, yet very different.

This is a general request...if you recommend, share how you got the gear. Be open about it. People deserve to know, and they may appreciate your openness much more than the alternative.

I have no issue being transparent.

They sell recertified and reconditioned lights on their website, I had a photon 48v2 in excellent condition, with all factory accessories and included items, and the original box, packing foam, mounting legs etc. ready to go, no issues.

I asked them if they would let me send it in as credit to apply towards a meridian setup. They asked some questions on the condition and usage of my light and agreed to accept it. I also had a few lumenbars, one of them was a 48” that I just bought a week prior and never opened or used. I got credit for my used lumenbar and did a return on my brand new one. This all combined was enough to cover a meridan setup, I do think I had to cover shipping on the items I was sending to trade in.

This was also when the meridians were first out, pre tariff increase, and slightly discounted for people preordering them.

I wouldn’t say I had any special treatment, but I did have good timing and acted on it.

There was no requirements or terms for me. This is a very simple and straightforward situation. I traded in lights for credit towards new lights.

What happened to the gear I sent in? It either went on their website for someone to buy at a reduced cost, or it was used for parts to repair lights coming in for warranty work. Either way, some unknown reefer/s out there were able to benefit from the trade in also.

 

[VintageReefer]

I stand by the light and company because I have had excellent results with the light and I have watched the brand grow and evolve for over a decade. Whenever I had an issue over the years, it was easy to get in touch with them, and they resolved it quickly. I couldn’t ask for more from a company in this hobby.

 

[Reefering1]

I have no issue being transparent.

They sell recertified and reconditioned lights on their website, I had a photon 48v2 in excellent condition, with all factory accessories and included items, and the original box, packing foam, mounting legs etc. ready to go, no issues.

I asked them if they would let me send it in as credit to apply towards a meridian setup. They asked some questions on the condition and usage of my light and agreed to accept it. I also had a few lumenbars, one of them was a 48” that I just bought a week prior and never opened or used. I got credit for my used lumenbar and did a return on my brand new one. This all combined was enough to cover a meridan setup, I do think I had to cover shipping on the items I was sending to trade in.

This was also when the meridians were first out, pre tariff increase, and slightly discounted for people preordering them.

I wouldn’t say I had any special treatment, but I did have good timing and acted on it.

There was no requirements or terms for me. This is a very simple and straightforward situation. I traded in lights for credit towards new lights.

What happened to the gear I sent in? It either went on their website for someone to buy at a reduced cost, or it was used for parts to repair lights coming in for warranty work. Either way, some unknown reefer/s out there were able to benefit from the trade in also.

Friend...,
You sure are adamant about you support for this company, like you used to be about the surf ATS.

How did you aquire the surf ATS(what was your pay scale)?

 

[VintageReefer]

Friend...,
You sure are adamant about you support for this company, like you used to be about the surf ATS.

How did you aquire the surf ATS(what was your pay scale)?

I am adamant about multiple companies when they:
A) make a product that works well
B) demonstrate they care and offer excellent customer support

You are correct, I love my Santa Monica surf 2 algae scrubber. I consider it to be a key part of my tanks success. And I have recommended it to many people and received positive feedback from them after they installed it.

What was my pay scale? I don’t know what this means. I bought it on Amazon in August 2013 for $355.48

And I have been using it daily since I got it. It’s currently on my frag tank, doing its job exactly as it should

 

[VintageReefer]

I was a voluntary supporter of a brand of battery backups also, because the product works great and when I had an issue they mailed me a replacement and let me keep the original. I have stopped recommending the brand because they seem to have significantly slowed down production, most of the time items are out of stock.

 

[VintageReefer]

However an item is acquired, regardless if it is bought, gifted, or traded, there is no influence on my opinion of it.

Here is a skimmer I got for free. Let me say this…you’ll never see me posting a recommendation for it. I tried and tried to get it to work consistently and properly…and gave up on it. Getting an item for free doesn’t make it a good product and doesn’t make me stand behind it.

It’s in a box for a reason. Same reason I’m not standing up for it in other threads.

 

[Rocks reef]

Friend...,
You sure are adamant about you support for this company, like you used to be about the surf ATS.

How did you aquire the surf ATS(what was your pay scale)?

Love this!!

 

[Reefering1]

Love this!!

Just a friend asking his buddy a serious question, and I respect his response- I have no reason to doubt it.

This all does demonstrate how blurry the line can be between a hobbyist review and a sponsored advertisement. End of the day transparency builds trust.

 

[VintageReefer]

Just a friend asking his buddy a serious question, and I respect his response- I have no reason to doubt it.

This all does demonstrate how blurry the line can be between a hobbyist review and a sponsored advertisement. End of the day transparency builds trust.

I did pay for my surf2. Best $350 I ever spent.

I’ll go a step further to demonstrate my character. Santa Monica contacted me and offered me a $2000 Rain8 scrubber to test and keep. It was overkill. Way overkill for my tank. I asked SM if I could gift it to a friend instead, he agreed. I reached out to a friend here on the forum with a larger tank and hooked him up with it for free

 

[Reefering1]

I did pay for my surf2. Best $350 I ever spent.

I’ll go a step further to demonstrate my character. Santa Monica contacted me and offered me a $2000 Rain8 scrubber to test and keep. It was overkill. Way overkill for my tank. I asked SM if I could gift it to a friend instead, he agreed. I reached out to a friend here on the forum with a larger tank and hooked him up with it for free

Sounds fairly convincing so far(6/10). Who, tag them...

 

[VintageReefer]

Sounds fairly convincing so far(6/10). Who, tag them...

@BryanM

 

[Reefering1]

@BryanM

Hmm, the only other person defending the paywall. Not a good look. We're down to 3/10, but not written off yet.
Let's see what *** has to say and explain why he didn't disclose this information in his raving in the other thread.. i still have a open mind and can't say anybody has done anything i wouldn't have- just looking for transparency...

 

[Reefering1]

@BryanM

 

[VintageReefer]

Hmm, the only other person defending the paywall.

Why do you think I’m defending the paywall?

My stance is I don’t think it’s worth it, I’m not paying for it. And I don’t care because I’m not affected in anyway.

 

[ScaredGoat]

It's become basically a witch hunt, let's throw anyone who likes the meridians in the ocean and see if they float.

 

[Reefering1]

Why do you think I’m defending the paywall?

My stance is I don’t think it’s worth it, I’m not paying for it. And I don’t care because I’m not affected in anyway.

Fair enough(4/10), but such defense for somthing so widely disliked makes people wonder why...
I, personally, dgaf.
Just fishing for details to see if they change my persinal opinion...

 

[Reefering1]

It's become basically a witch hunt, let's throw anyone who likes the meridians in the ocean and see if they float.

No which hunt. Just people verifying sources.

 

[VintageReefer]

Fair enough(4/10), but such defense for somthing so widely disliked makes people wonder why...
I, personally, dgaf.
Just fishing for details to see if they change my persinal opinion...

I do not defend the subscription. I do like the light and company. One decision I don’t agree with does not make me dislike them

 

[Reefering1]

I do not defend the subscription. I do like the light and company. One decision I don’t agree with does not make me dislike them

That's fair.